Indicating means for a belt lifter

ABSTRACT

A device for removing a belt from the fan shaft of a vacuum cleaner motor and for replacing the belt on the shaft so that a nozzle casing may be detachable and replaceable with respect to the motor housing. The device includes a member which is pivotally mounted on the outer face of the nozzle casing and operates an arm within the nozzle casing. The arm, upon rotation of the member in a first direction, removes the belt from the shaft and, upon rotation of the member in a second direction, replaces the belt on the shaft. The member has a flange which extends over a portion of the outer face of the nozzle casing. An aperture is provided in the flange which provides an opening to expose a first area of an underlying portion of the nozzle casing when the arm and the member are in a first position and to expose a second area of the underlying portion when the arm and its member are in a second position. Indicia means are provided at the first and second areas to indicate the condition of the belt when the arm is at its first and second conditions.

United States Patent MacFarland [4 1 Mar. 7, 1972 [54] INDICATING MEANS FOR A BELT LIFTER [72] inventor: Charles H. MaeFarland, Rocky River,

Ohio

[73] Assignee: The Scott 8: Fetzer Company [22] Filed: Oct. 30, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 85,478

[52] US. Cl. ..l5/339, 15/332 [51] Int. Cl. A471 5/00 [58] Field of Search ..15/332, 339, 389, 390

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,538,464 1/1951 MacFarland 15/390 1,726,592 9/1929 Spanel 15/332 Primary Examiner-Walter A. Scheel Assistant ExaminerC. K. Moore Attorney-Mellenny, Farrington, Pearne and Gordon ABSTRACT A device for removing a belt from the fan shaft of a vacuum cleaner motor and for replacing the belt on the shaft so that a nozzle casing may be detachable and replaceable with respect to the motor housing. The device includes a member which is pivotally mounted on the outer face of the nozzle casing and operates an arm within the nozzle casing. The arm, upon rotation of the member in a first direction. removes the belt from the shaft and, upon rotation of the member in a second direction, replaces the belt on the shaft. The member has a flange which extends over a portion of the outer face of the nozzle casing. An aperture is provided in the flange which provides an opening to expose a first area of an underlying portion of the nozzle casing when the arm and the member are in a first position and to expose a second area of the underlying portion when the arm and its member are in a second position. lndicia means are provided at the first and second areas to indicate the condition of the belt when the arm is at its first and second conditions.

2Claims,4DrawingFignres INDICATING MEANS FOR A BELT LIFTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to vacuum cleaners of the type in which a suction nozzle is detachably connected to the inlet of a fan casing and is provided with a brush that is driven from the fan shaft by means of a belt within the nozzle, the nozzle being detachable from the casing so that it may be replaced by a different type of nozzle.

It has been proposed to provide an adjustable belt-engaging member for the nozzle which is movable from a position clear of the belt, to a position engaging the belt, and then to a position overlying the other end of the fan shaft so as to support the upper loop of the belt clear of the fan shaft so that the belt is supported wholly by the nozzle in a position such that the fan shaft is free to move out of or into the upper belt loop as the nozzle is detached from or attached to the fan casing and that is movable from its belt-supporting position to reengage the belt with the fan shaft. Such an arrangement is set forth in MacFarland US. Pat. No. 2,538,464. In the MacFarland patent, the adjustable belt-engaging member is operated by a rotatable member mounted on the outside wall of the nozzle. The rotatable member does not include clear indicia as to the condition of the belt (i.e., whether the belt is on or off the fan shaft) and as a consequence, the user of the vacuum cleaner is often confused as to the belt condition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a clear indication as to whether or not the belt is supported by the arm in a position which is clear of the fan shaft or has been reengaged with the fan shaft. According to this invention, an externally rotatable member has a flange which extends over a portion of the outer face of the nozzle. An aperture is provided in the overlying flange portion of the member which provides an opening to expose a first area of the underlying portion of the nozzle. The first area of the underlying portion of the nozzle is exposed when the rotatable member is in a position to locate the belt-lifting arm at a first position at one side of the belt when the belt is on the fan shaft in its operable position. When the member is rotated to a position wherein the arm supports the belt above the fan shaft, the aperture exposes a second area of the underlying portion of the nozzle. lndicia means are provided at the first area to indicate that the belt is on" and indicia means are provided at the second area to indicate that the belt is off." While the member is being rotated between its limiting positions, the aperture exposes intermediate portions of the underlying portion of the nozzle. These portions are provided with indicia means to indicate the direction in which the members should be turned to achieve an on or off belt condition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a nozzle in accordance with this invention illustrating the belt lifter operator in an on condition;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 2-2 in FIG. I, but with a head lamp casing hood removed for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 3-3 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the belt lifter mechanism according to this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention is applied to a vacuum cleaner of a conventional type which includes a fan casing which has a vertical front wall 11 provided with a central outlet opening 12. The fan casing also has a tangential outlet (not shown) and a fan 13 is mounted therein on a shaft 14 that may be driven by a motor (not shown). The fan shaft 14 projects forwardly through the opening 12 and has a forward end portion- 15 formed to provide a belt pulley.

The fan casing I0 is mounted :upon a suitable carriage (not shown) that is provided with supporting wheels (not shown). A nozzle 16 is detachably secured to the fan casing 10 so that the fan shaft I4 projects into an opening 17 in the nozzle 16. The nozzle 16 has slotted lugs 18 on the underside thereof that engage a horizontal pin (not shown) carried by the fan casing. The nozzle 16 is also provided on the upper side thereof with a laterally projecting flange 19 which bears against the outer face of the front wall 11 of the fancasing l0 and which is engaged by a clamping member 20 to secure the nozzle to the fan casing. The nozzle 16 has a downwardly flaring inlet portion 21 which has an inclined front wall 22 that overlies the forward end of the fan shaft 14. Within the inlet portion 21 of the nozzle 16 there is mounted a cylindrical brush shaft 23 which is disposed at right angles tothe fan shaft 14 and supported at its ends by suitable bearings (not shown). The brush shaft 23 is driven by means of a belt 24 which is twisted to provide an upper loop engaging the pulley portion 15 of the shaft 14 and a lower loop which extends around the cylindrical shaft 23. The cylindrical shaft 23 is larger than the pulley 15 and is disposed with its axis forwardly of the pulley 15 so that one run of the belt 24 is inclined forwardly and downwardly from the pulley 15 to the front side of the shaft 23, while the opposite run of the belt is in a substantially vertical position.

The front wall 22 of the nonle has a circular opening 25 therethrough and a rotatable closure member 26 is mounted for rotation within the opening. The rotatable member 26 includes a rectangular face portion 27 and a cylindrical portion 28 which projects through the opening 25. The rectangular portion 27 is provided with a pair of ears 29 which constitute handles to facilitate the turning of the member 26. The member 26 is also provided with an aperture 30 which exposes a first area 31 of a portion of the wall 22 which underlies the member 26 when the member 26 is in the position illustrated in the drawings. 3

The member 26 is provided with a bore 32 which extends through the portion 28. A bolt 33 extends through the bore 32 and is threadedly received by a wingnut 34 which is spaced from the end of the portion 28 by a pair of washers 35. The wingnut 34 and the washers 35 clamp a plate 36 against the inside surface of the wall 22. The plate 36 is keyed to the portion 28 by projections 37 which cooperate with slots 38 provided in the plate 36. The portion 28 is surrounded by a bushing 39 which extends into the opening 25. A spring washer 40 spaces the rectangular portion 27 of the member 26 from the bushing 39.

A suitable arm 41, which may be formed integrally with the plate 36, projects inwardly from the plate 36 and is adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the belt 24. The member 26, and therefore the arm 41, may be turned in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. I, about an axis which is disposed at an angle to the axis of the fan shaft 14 and the arm 41 is so positioned on the plate 36 that when the member 26 and the arm 41 are in their illustrated positions, the arm 41 is positioned laterally of and entirely clear of the belt 24. Upon turning movement of the member 26 in a coun terclockwise direction, the arm 41 is swung inwardly past the rear run of the belt 24 and into engagement with the inner side of the forward run of the belt 24. Further movement of the member 26 swings the arm 41 to a position shown in phantom outline in FIG. 2, where it closely overlies the pulley portion 15 of the fan shaft 14. When the arm 41 closely overlies the pulley portion ,15, the belt 24 is supported clear of the fan 1 shaft 14 and the fan shaft is free to move axially out of the belt loop when the nozzle 16 is detached from the fan casing. The arm 41 also serves to support the belt 24 while the nozzle 16 is detached from the fan casing in a position such that the forward end of the fan shaft will freely enter the loop of the belt when the nozzle 16 is again attached to the fan casing.

When the member 26 is rotated in a clockwise direction so that the arm 41 overlies the pulley portion 15 of the fan shaft 14, the member 26 is restrained against further clockwise movement by a pin 45 which is abutted by a portion 46 of the member 26. In such a position, the aperture 30 exposes a second area 47 of the face 22. The portion of the face 22 which underlies the member 26 is provided with a pressuresensitive adhesive label 50 The label 50 is provided with indicia at the first and second areas 31 and 47 to indicate the condition of the belt. Thus, when the member 26 is in the illustrated position the aperture 30 exposes the indicia belt is on. When the member 26 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction and the arm 41 supports the belt 24, the aperture 30 exposes the indicia belt is off. As the member 26 is rotated between its limiting positions, intermediate areas of the label 50 are exposed. Those intermediate areas of the label 50 include directional indicia to indicate the direction of movement to achieve an on" or off belt condition.

The invention is not restricted to the slavish imitation of each and every detail set forth above. Obviously, devices may be provided which change, eliminate, or add certain specific details without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner having a fan casing, an inlet in'said casing, a suction nozzle connected to said fan casing inlet, said nozzle having an inlet at its lower end and a passagefrom its inlet to said fan casing, a fan shaft projecting into the nozzle passage, a brush shaft mounted in the nozzle below and transverse to said shaft, a belt having an upper loop receiving said fan shaft and a lower loop receiving said brush shaft, a member rotatably adjustable in the nozzle beyond the end of said fan shaft, and an arm carried by said member and projecting into said nozzle passage, said arm being movable in an arcuate path upon rotation of said member from a first position at one side of said belt to a second position in engagement with the interior of the belt above the fan shaft to support the upper loop of the belt on the nozzle and clear of the fan shaft to permit the outer end of the fan shaft to be withdrawn from the belt upon detachment of the nozzle from the fan casing and to be entered into the loop of the belt when the nozzle is again attached to said fan casing, in combination therewith the improvement which comprises said member having a flange which extends over a portion of the outer face of said nozzle, aperture means in said flange which provides an opening to expose a first area of said portion when said arm is at said first portion at one side of said belt and to expose a second area of said portion when said arm is at its second position supporting the upper loop of the belt on the nozzle, indicia means at said first and second areas indicating the condition of the belt when said arm is at its first and second positions.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein additional indicia means are provided on said portion which are exposed by said aperture means when said arm is in positions between said first and second positions, said additional indicia means indicating rotative directions to achieve said first and second positions. 

1. In a vacuum cleaner having a fan casing, an inlet in said casing, a suction nozzle connected to said fan casing inlet, said nozzle having an inlet at its lower end and a passage from its inlet to said fan casing, a fan shaft projecting into the nozzle passage, a brush shaft mounted in the nozzle below and transverse to said shaft, a belt having an upper loop receiving said fan shaft and a lower loop receiving said brush shaft, a member rotatably adjustable in the nozzle beyond the end of said fan shaft, and an arm carried by said member and projecting into said nozzle passage, said arm being movable in an arcuate path upon rotation of said member from a first position at one side of said belt to a second position in engagement with the interior of the belt above the fan shaft to support the upper loop of the belt on the nozzle and clear of the fan shaft to permit the outer end of the fan shaft to be withdrawn from the belt upon detachment of the nozzle from the fan casing and to be entered into the loop of the belt when the nozzLe is again attached to said fan casing, in combination therewith the improvement which comprises said member having a flange which extends over a portion of the outer face of said nozzle, aperture means in said flange which provides an opening to expose a first area of said portion when said arm is at said first portion at one side of said belt and to expose a second area of said portion when said arm is at its second position supporting the upper loop of the belt on the nozzle, indicia means at said first and second areas indicating the condition of the belt when said arm is at its first and second positions.
 2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein additional indicia means are provided on said portion which are exposed by said aperture means when said arm is in positions between said first and second positions, said additional indicia means indicating rotative directions to achieve said first and second positions. 